Folding cot.



. Patented Nov- I2, I90I. `C. J. FULLETT,

FULDING CUT.

(Application filed Jan. 14, 1901.)

2 sheets-sheet l.`

(No Model.)

No. 686,649. Patented Nov. l2, |901'.

c. .L FoLLETT.

FULDING COT. (Application hiad Jan. 14, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. FOLLETT, OFv LAREDO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOROF vONE-HALF TO WILLIAMH. MIMS AND LEONARD NELSON, OF LAREDO, TEXAS.

FOLDING COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,649, dated November12, 1901.

' Application filed January 14, 1901l Serial No. 43,217. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. FOLLETT, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Laredo,in the county of Webb and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Folding Cot, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to folding cots for general use, but particularlyadapted for army service or by large numbers of persons, such asincamps; and the object of the present construction and the minormodifications thereof is to provide a simple and effective form of cotthat can be easily reduced to compact form for transportation or storageand readily set up in operative position for use, the several partsbeing strong and durable and comparatively inexpensive in the cost ofmanufacture.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cot embodying thefeatures of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portionof the same. Fig. 3 shows detail perspective views of parts of theimproved cot. Fig. 4t is a detail perspective view of a portion of acot, showing a modification of the invention. Fig. 5 is asectionalelevation of a portion of the modified form of the cot. Fig. 6shows perspective views of portions of the modified form of the cot.Fig. 7 is a side elevation of portions of rails of the cot, showing adifferent form of hinge.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views. t

The numeral 1 designates the opposite side rails of the cot, as shown byFig. 1 and partially shown by Figs. 2 and 3, each side rail being formedin two parts of equal length and having the inner ends hinged byastraphinge 2, applied to the under edges thereof and adapted to breakin folding in a direction opposite that to which the weight of theperson resting on the cot is applied, so that there will be no liabilityof an accidental movement of the said rails of the cot when in practicaluse. The complete side rails are of the usual length, and the upperportions of the opposite terminals are formed with horizontal mortises 3of a depth equal to the thickness of the headl and foot bars i and 5,transversely extending from one rail to the other and terminally seatedin the said lnortises. To the said foot and end bars a woven spring-wirewebbing 6 is se cured, as shown, and is stretched to therequired degreeWhen the rails l lare arranged in operative position, but loosened whenthe rails and remaining parts are separated for folding. In thisconnection it will be understood that any kind of wire-web-stretchingmeans may be applied to the head and foot bars, and instead of thewoven-wire web a fabric web may be employed. The opposite terminals' ofthe head and foot bars are formed with slots 7, one in each terminal,which open outwardly therefrom and extend longitudinally thereof, andengaging the said slots and apertures 8 in the mortised terminals of theside rails are clamping-bolts 9, having heads that bear on the uppersurfaces of the head and foot bars over the slots of the latter andlower screw-threaded extremities supplied with adjustable nuts to bearagainst the under edges of the rails, washers being mounted on the boltsand interposed between the heads and nuts thereof and the bars andrails. It will also be understood that the end bars 4 and 5 are in nosense web-stretching devices as ordinarily understood in this art, as itis proposed to employ independent mechanism for this purpose, as alreadyindicated; but they do draw the web taut to a certain degree whenapplied in operative position on the rails and are braced to resist thestrain of the web by the mortised construction of the rail-terminals, asset forth. The particular construction set forth has been devised tofacilitate the assemblage and disconnection of the rails and bars and toadapt the several parts to be reduced to compact `and convenient formfor storage or transport-ation. By loosening the clamping-bolts 9 theside rails 1 can be drawn outwardly in a sidewise direction from the endbars 4 and 5 without completely detaching the bolts from said rails, andthus always have the said bolts in convenient position for immediate useand prevent loss of thesame. The rails have opposite legs 10 pivoted tothe inner sides thereof and adapted to fold invious reasons. When theside rails 1 are disconnected from the head and foot or end bars t and5, the legs 10 are turned inwardly and said rails folded to just halftheir normal length. One of the bars 4 or 5 is then grasped and the webrolled thereon and the rails bundled therewith and suitably secured by asurrounding device. One of the most convenient modes of bundling theparts is to fold the rails and place them on the web before the latteris rolled and pass it around said rails and then tie or strap thecompleted bundle. Vthen putting the parts together, the rails are openedand the loose bolts 9 slipped into the slots in the ends of the bars 4and 5 and then tightened. The mortised construction of the terminals ofthe rails also provides a fiush fitting for the bars, thisarrangementvbeing of material importance in View of the adaptability ofeither end of the cot to serve as the head end.

The formofthe cot shown by Figs. 4, 5, and G embodies the same structurein the main as that just described, except that the end or head and footbars 12 and 13 do not have terminal-slots, but simply vertical openings14 therethrough for the bolts 9 and carry the bolts therewith when theparts are separated.

In this instance the terminals ot' the rails are formed withlongitudinal slots 15, which open outwardly endwise therefrom andreceive t-he bolts. This is a reversal of the construct-ion heretoforeset forth, and in separating the parts the bolts are loosened and therails turned up or tilted to move the bolts out through the openterminals of the slotsin the ends of the bars and the same bundlingoperation proceeded with as before described. In this construction thehorizontal mortises 3 are dispensed with and angle-braces l2a areemployed for holding the bed or cot bottom 6, (shown by Fig. 1,) andthus permit adjustable features for the latter to be employed and coactwith said braces. Y

In Fig. 7 the rail-sections are shown joined by a different form ofhinge 16 and consisting of straps 17, secured to either the outer orinner side thereof and disposed at a downward angle of inclination,withtheirlower ends pivotally attached. The effect and operation of thishinge is the same as the form heretofore set forth.

From the foregoing description, wherein changes in the construction havebeen fully set forth, it will be understood that the improved cot isintended to be equipped with all the attachments which the user maydemand in addition to the particular construction embodying the featuresof the invention, and though the preferred forms have been described itis obviously apparent that changes in the form, size, proportions, andminor details may be resorted to without departing from the principle ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. `In acot, the combination of side rails each composed of two sections ofequal length and hinged at the inner ends, folding legs on the saidrails, head and foot bars removably secured to said rails, the terminalsof one of the latter parts in each instance being slotted in thelongitudinal direction thereof, and clamping-bolts carried by one of thelsaid latter parts and engaging the slotted terminals of the other, thedirection of the slots in said terminals permitting movement of one ofthe parts directly engaged by the bolts when the latter are lowered toallow the head and foot bars to be disconnected without detaching thesaid bolts from the unslotted terminals of the adjacent parts.

2. In a cot, the combination of side rails each composed of two sectionsof equal length hinged at the inner ends and having upper terminallongitudinally-extending mortises, folding legs on the said rails, headand foot bars removably secured to the mortised terminals of the saidrails, the terminals of one of the latter parts at each end havingoutwardly-opening slots extending in the longitudinal direction thereof,and clamping-bolts carried by one of said latter parts and removablyengaging the slotted terminals of the other so that said parts can beseparated without disconnecting the bolts from the part carrying thesame, the direction of the slots in said terminals permitting movementof one of the parts directly engaged by the bolts when the latter arelowered to allow the head and foot bars to be disconnected withoutdetaching the said bolts from the unslotted terminals of the adjacentparts.

3. In a cot, the combination of side rails each composed of two sectionsof equal length hinged at the inner ends and having upper terminallongitudinally-extending mortises and also provided with folding legs,head and foot bars forthe attachment of aweb disposed in said mortisedterminals of the rails and formed with terminal slots extendinglongitudinally thereof and opening outwardly endwise therefrom, andclamping-bolts carried by the terminals of the rails and removablyengaging the said slots of the foot and head bars, whereby the saidrails may be drawn sidewise from the bars without entirely disconnectingthe bolts, the said bars being adapted to have a web attached thereto,the direction of the slots in said terminals permitting movement of oneof the parts directly engaged by the bolts when the latter are loweredto allow the head and foot bars to be disconnected without detaching thesaid bolts from the unslotted terminals of the adjacent parts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. J. FOLLET T.

Vttnesses:

HUGH A. MCCLELLAND, J. L. RICHMOND.

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